If your home has a chimney, you can often connect the vent pipe to the chimney instead of creating another hole in an exterior wall. If you have a cabinet over your stove, you may need to run the pipe behind or even through it. Cabinets are good for hiding vent pipes, but the pipe reduces your available storage space.
If you have to go through important materials in the wall, speak to a contractor to avoid damaging your home. Find a local HVAC professional with experience installing stove venting. If your wall or ceiling is open, such as during construction, try testing the route yourself. Straighten out a coat hanger, tie it to a drill, then run it through the route you chose. If you hit something solid, you know you have framing or other issues to contend with.
If you’re installing through a finished wall, measure a nearby doorway, then add extra length for insulation and other components. For example, an average interior wall is about 4 in (10 cm) of framework plus an extra 1 in (2. 5 cm), or 5 in (13 cm) thick in total. Add an extra 1 in (2. 5 cm) of sheathing for an exterior wall, or about 6 in (15 cm) of thickness in total. Use your home’s blueprint if you have it available to determine wall and ceiling thickness.
The range hood needs to be about 6 in (15 cm) wider than your stove, extending past it on both sides. Some homes lack space to hide ducts or are made of materials like glass that can’t have duct openings. Count on needing free space 8 to 12 cm (3. 1 to 4. 7 in) wide for range ducts. Getting a regular range hood depends on how thick your wall is and what obstacles are in the way of an installation. If installing ducts is a problem you face, consider getting a ductless range hood that uses a filter to recirculate air.
For example, if you’re venting a range hood horizontally, you will probably need 2 pipes. The first pipe rests on top of the hood. The other pipe connects to it and runs horizontally towards the outside. Get a couple of pipe elbows to connect multiple vent pipes. The elbows allow you to change the vent’s route, which you will need to do for vents situated horizontally.
Vent caps are available at most hardware stores with the rest of the pipes you need.
For hoods mounted on the wall, use a level to mark where the top and bottom edges will lie. Hold the level up against the wall, then trace lines in pencil. If you don’t need a hood, such as when venting a wood-burning stove, skip to cutting holes to fit the pipes. You don’t need to hang anything on the wall or ceiling.
If you don’t have a template, hold the hood or vent pipe against the wall or ceiling. Trace the vent opening and mark any attachment points.
Wear goggles and a dust mask when drilling and sawing. Consider having someone else nearby with a vacuum to collect dust as you work. Use a regular carbon steel hole saw blade for wood and drywall. Use a bi-metal blade to slice through metal. Switch to a diamond-tipped blade for stone, concrete, and other tough material. You can also use a drill bit to start the cut, then use a different saw to cut the material.
Be on the lookout for studs, pipes, and other obstacles. If you run into them, you will need to reroute your vent or have a contractor remove the obstacles. If you’re uncertain where to create the exterior hole, you can wait until you fit the vent pipes. With careful planning, this usually isn’t necessary, but accuracy makes waiting worth it.
Use the same size pipes and elbow joints. The pipes fit inside the joints and don’t need to be screwed or glued together.
The flatter the vent cap is on the wall or ceiling, the more waterproof your vent will be. Expect water to drip into any space left between your home’s surface and the vent cap plate.
The size of the screws will vary depending on how big the plate is.
Always turn off the room’s electrical power before handling wires. Flip the circuit breaker in the bottom part of your home and consider testing exposed wires with a voltmeter. What you need to do depends on your stove. Some stoves and hoods simply plug into a wall outlet, while others require electrical work. If you’re unsure about handling electrical wires, call a professional electrician or a ventilation expert in your area. Let them finish the installation in a safe way.
Some hoods rest on brackets set on the wall. Screw the bracket in place instead of the hood. You may need a friend on hand to help you lift the hood into position.
If the vent doesn’t work, you may need to take it apart. Try blowing air through the vents with a fan or another tool to check for leaks or loose connections. Use a voltmeter to detect if the wires have an electrical current running through them.
